NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

Metro Market Score 69.7 (Difficult), ranked #334 of 378 metros. 1,552 establishments, 27,536 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 69.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

💰High-Cost Market⚡Rising Wages

Wage costs in Spokane-Spokane Valley's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 89.7 and rising pressure at 79.8. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
37.0
LQ: 1.08
Rank #140 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
89.7
$43,481 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 26.5
Employment growth index
Rank #279 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
79.8
YoY wage change index

1,552 Retail Trade Firms in Spokane-Spokane Valley

1,552
Establishments
+0.3% YoY
27,536
Total Employment
-1.6% YoY
$43,481
Average Annual Wage
+3.5% YoY
1.08
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Spokane-Spokane Valley vs Washington Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Washington overall. The state ranks #20/51 for entry risk.

Measure Spokane-Spokane Valley WA Statewide
Overall Score 69.7 Difficult 42.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #334 of 378 metros #20 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Spokane-Spokane Valley

Administrative and Support Services 53.5 Other Services 53.5 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 56.4 Information 58.7 Construction 60.9 Accommodation and Food Services 68.4 Healthcare and Social Assistance 68.7 Finance and Insurance 74.8

Retail Trade in Other Washington Metros

Walla Walla 51.0 #153/378 Bellingham 58.5 #237/378 Kennewick-Richland 58.9 #242/378 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 60.7 #263/378 Yakima 67.8 #326/378 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 69.2 #329/378 Longview-Kelso 69.3 #332/378 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee 69.9 #337/378 Mount Vernon-Anacortes 71.8 #348/378 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 74.0 #361/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Spokane-Spokane Valley's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (89.7) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.